Hydrangea plant named ‘SMHPS’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘SMHPS’ is disclosed, characterized by lace-cap inflorescences with bright pinkish-red sepals in late summer to fall. Plants have dwarf habits, dark green foliage, and strong, upright stems. The new variety is a Hydrangea, typically produced as an outdoor ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Hydrangea paniculata.

Variety denomination: ‘SMHPS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor, at a commercial nursery in Grand Haven, Mich. Theobjective of the breeding program was to produce new Hydrangea varietieswith dwarf habits, good health and vigor, and attractive blooms. Theopen-pollination resulting in the new variety was made during 2007.

The seed parent cannot be identified, as it is from bulked seed fromearly flowering selections of unnamed, unpatented dwarf Hydrangeapaniculata varieties. The pollen parent cannot be identified as this newselection resulted from an open-pollination.

The new variety was found and selected by the inventor in 2011 at thesame nursery in Grand Haven, Mich.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘SMHPS’ was first performedduring 2011 in Grand Haven, Mich., by softwood cuttings. Throughsubsequent propagation, multiple additional generations have beenreproduced, having shown that the unique features of this cultivar arestable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SMHPS’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘SMHPS’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘SMHPS’ as a new and distinct Hydrangeacultivar:

-   -   1. Dwarf, compact habit.    -   2. Strong, upright stems.    -   3. Thick, strong leaves with a coarse texture.    -   4. Dark green foliage.    -   5. Lace-cap inflorescences.    -   6. Bright pinkish-red late summer to fall color to sepals.

PARENT COMPARISON

Parent comparisons for Hydrangea ‘SMHPS’ are unavailable, as bothparents are unidentified.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar Hydrangea ‘SMHPS’ can be compared to thecommercial variety Hydrangea ‘SMNHPK’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 32,512.Plants of ‘SMHPS’ are similar to plants of ‘SMNHPK’ in mosthorticultural characteristics, however, plants of ‘SMHPS’ differ in thefollowing:

-   -   1. ‘SMHPS’ has thicker, more coarsely textured leaves than        ‘SMNHPK’.    -   2. ‘SMHPS’ has broad leaves with small tips, while ‘SMNHPK’ has        narrow elliptical leaves with prominently acuminate tips.    -   3. ‘SMHPS’ has lace-cap inflorescences, while ‘SMNHPK’ has        mop-head inflorescences.    -   4. ‘SMHPS’ has a very upright habit, while ‘SMNHPK’ has a less        upright habit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘SMHPS’ grown outdoors in Grand Haven, Mich. This plantis approximately 2-3 years old, grown in a 3-gallon container duringlate Spring.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a plant of ‘SMHPS’ during early Fall,with darker sepal coloration.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2015, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘SMHPS’ plants grown outdoors in Grand Haven,Mich. The plants were about 2 to 3 years old. Temperatures ranged from5° C. to 10° C. at night to 18° C. to 27° C. during the day. Noartificial light, photoperiodic treatments were given to the plants.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical planttypes.

-   Botanical classification: Hydrangea paniculata ‘SMHPS’.

PROPAGATION

-   Typical method: Softwood cuttings.-   Root initiation: Approximately 18 days.-   Time to produce rooted cutting: 60 days during summer.-   Roots: Thick to thin, freely branching, fibrous, dense. White to    brown in color, not accurately measured with R.H.S. chart.

PLANT

-   Plant shape: Quite upright.-   Growth habit: Mostly upwards.-   Height: 50 cm.-   Plant spread: 35 cm.-   Pot size of plant described: #3 container.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 2 to 3 years.-   Growth rate: Slow to moderate.-   Plant vigor: Good.-   Stem:    -   -   Branching.—Basal.        -   Number of lateral branches.—8 to 10.        -   Shape.—Rounded.        -   Color.—Immature: RHS Yellow-Green N144D. Mature: RHS            Yellow-Green N144D with tinges of Greyed-Orange 176A, and            Yellow-Green 145D lenticels. Old growth: RHS Greyed-Brown            N199B.        -   Length.—45 cm.        -   Width.—1 cm.        -   Aspect.—60 to 80°.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Internode length.—4 to 5 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Length.—9 cm.        -   Width.—6.5 cm.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Very slightly serrulate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Coarse, with fine hairs and            pronounced venation.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Coarse, with fine hairs along            veins and mid-rib.        -   Pubescence.—On both sides.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146A.            Young foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Mature            foliage upper side: RHS Green NN137B. Mature foliage, under            side: Near RHS Greyed-Green 191B.-   Venation:    -   -   Type.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Upper side: RHS Yellow-Green N144D with tinges of            Greyed-Orange 176A. Under side: Near RHS Greyed-Green 191B.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—2 cm.        -   Width.—4 mm.        -   Color.—Upper side: RHS Yellow-Green N144D, with tinges of            Greyed-Orange 176A. Under side: RHS Yellow-Green N144D, with            tinges of Greyed-Orange 176A.        -   Texture.—Upper side: Very slight pubescence. Under side:            Very slight pubescence.

INFLORESCENCE

-   Natural flowering season: Summer.-   Inflorescence type: Lace-cap.-   Panicle:    -   -   Shape.—Upright, cone-shaped, rounded.        -   Height.—10 cm.        -   Diameter.—8 cm.-   Fragrance: None.-   Sterile flowers:    -   -   Flowers per inflorescence.—40 to 50.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Shape.—Round whorl.        -   Length.—2.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—2.5 cm.        -   Depth.—5 mm.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Persistent.-   Bud:    -   -   Length.—3 mm.        -   Bud diameter.—3 mm.        -   Bud shape.—Elliptic, obovate.        -   Bud color.—RHS Green-White 157A.-   Petals:    -   -   Number per flower.—4.        -   Arrangement.—Stellate.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Tip.—Acute.        -   Base.—Flat.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—3 mm.        -   Width.—2 mm.        -   Texture.—Upper side: Smooth, soft. Under side: Smooth, soft.        -   Color.—When Opening, Upper side: RHS White NN155A. When            Opening, Under side: RHS White NN155A. Fully Opened, Upper            side: RHS White NN155A. Fully Opened, Under side: RHS White            NN155A.-   Sepal:    -   -   Number.—4.        -   Arrangement.—Cruciform.        -   Shape.—Reniform.        -   Tip.—Emarginate.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—12 mm.        -   Width.—2 cm.        -   Texture.—Upper side: Smooth and soft with some pronounced            venation. Under side: Smooth and soft with some pronounced            venation.        -   Color.—When Opening, Upper side: RHS Green-Yellow 1D, with            tinges of Green-Yellow 1C. When Opening, Under side: RHS            Green-Yellow 1D, with tinges of Green-Yellow 1C. Fully            Opened, Upper side: RHS White 155A. Fully Opened, Under            side: RHS White 155A. Fading, Upper side: RHS Red-Purple            63A. Fading, Under side: RHS Red-Purple 63A.-   Pedicle:    -   -   Length.—2 cm.        -   Diameter.—2 mm.        -   Angle.—45°.        -   Strength.—Good, flexible.        -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Color.—RHS White 155A.-   Fertile flowers:    -   -   Flowers per inflorescence.—300 to 400.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Shape.—Stellate.        -   Length.—6 mm.        -   Diameter.—6 mm.        -   Depth.—4 mm.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.-   Bud:    -   -   Length.—3 mm.        -   Bud diameter.—3 mm.        -   Bud shape.—Elliptic, obovate.        -   Bud color.—RHS Green-White 157A.-   Petals:    -   -   Number per flower.—5.        -   Arrangement.—Stellate.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Tip.—Acute.        -   Base.—Flat.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—3 mm.        -   Width.—2 mm.        -   Texture.—Upper side: Smooth, soft. Under side: Smooth, soft.        -   Color.—When Opening, Upper side: RHS White NN155A. When            Opening, Under side: RHS White NN155A. Fully Opened, Upper            side: RHS White NN155A. Fully Opened, Under side: RHS White            NN155A.-   Sepal: None.-   Pedicle:    -   -   Length.—2 mm.        -   Diameter.—1 mm.        -   Angle.—45°.        -   Strength.—Good.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS White NN155A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Sterile flower:-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—10.        -   Filament color.—RHS White NN155B.        -   Filament length.—3 mm.-   Anthers:    -   -   Length.—>1 mm.        -   Shape.—Rounded, basifixed.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow-White 158B.        -   Pollen.—Good amount.        -   Pollen color.—RHS Yellow-White 158B.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—2 mm.-   Stigma:    -   -   Shape.—3-lobed.        -   Color.—RHS Green-White 157D.        -   Style length.—1 mm.        -   Style color.—RHS Green-White 157D.        -   Ovary color.—RHS Green-White 157D.-   Fertile flower:-   Stamen:    -   -   Number.—10.        -   Filament length.—3 mm.        -   Filament color.—RHS White NN155B.-   Anther:    -   -   Shape.—Rounded, basifixed        -   Length.—>1 mm.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow-White 158B.        -   Pollen amount.—Good.        -   Pollen color.—RHS Yellow-White 158B.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—2 mm.-   Stigma:    -   -   Shape.—3-lobed.        -   Color.—RHS Green-White 157D.        -   Style length.—1 mm.        -   Style color.—RHS Green-White 157D.        -   Ovary color.—RHS Green-White 157D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to the    normal diseases and pests of Hydrangea has been observed.-   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: The new cultivar can tolerate    cold temperatures to approximately −32° C. and tolerates an upper    temperature range to at least 36° C.-   Fruit/seed production: Not observed to date.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plantnamed ‘SMHPS’ as herein illustrated and described.